Over time, I will add resources to this website that will help you explore the night sky. And if you are a teacher, you will find the resources helpful in your teaching of some sections of the Australian Curriculum: Science Earth & Space Sciences component. 29 April 2014 Partial Solar Eclipse pinhole viewer Go here […]
Introduction Heavens-Above.com provides free customised information for your location including whole sky star charts, predictions for the visibility of the International Space Station and other satellites (including Iridium flares). Bookmarks for all capital cities are provided below. If you are located elsewhere, you can customise one of the below links to your location. All you […]
Free student astronomy newsletter You can download a free ‘Amazing Space!’ student newsletter for each term. The newsletter’s content will vary but currently includes finder charts for planets visible to the unaided eye (in the early evening sky), where to look for easily recognisable constellations and Moon phases for the months of that term. Potential […]
(Posted 25 April 2014) Early riser? Tomorrow morning, Venus and the crescent Moon will provide a dazzling photo opportunity as they rise over the ocean. Moon rise is 2:48 am AEST for the Gold Coast so it would be an early morning but worth it. For observers not near the ocean, you could still try for […]
Venus shines high in pre-dawn ANZAC Day 2014 and above ANZAC Cove, Turkey 1915
(Posted 23 April 2014) If you are attending this week’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service (Friday 25 April 2014), before the service starts you can take part in a little naked eye astronomy by looking up and to the East. Assuming you have clear skies, you will easily be able to observe dazzling Venus and a waning crescent […]
Jupiter, Mars and Saturn visible tonight. No telescope or binoculars required!
(Posted 22 April 2014) Planet spotting doesn’t any easier than tonight with Jupiter, Mars and Saturn easily visible to the unaided eye as bright stars. Jupiter is the brightest star located above the North Western horizon at the end of evening twilight. If you do have a telescope or binoculars, take the time to get […]
Make your own tin can pinhole planetarium (page 5 of 5)
(Article continued from previous post) You can use the pinhole planetarium by looking through it (see above image showing what I saw) or by shining a torch through it so that you get star images projected onto a wall (see below image). Note that the square stars in the below image is due to the pinholes […]
Make your own tin can pinhole planetarium (page 4 of 5)
(Article continued from previous post) Step 5: Make holes using a sharp implement such as a sewing needle. Note that the hole needs to be a different size for each star (corresponding to the different brightnesses of the stars in the real sky). Poke the implement through the hole until you cannot see any of the […]
Make your own tin can pinhole planetarium (page 3 of 5)
(Article continued from previous post) . . Step 4: Secure constellation disc to tin can by folding tabs down and applying sticky tape. Go to next page —>
Venus shines high in pre-dawn ANZAC Day 2014 and above ANZAC Cove, Turkey 1915
(Posted 23 April 2014) If you are attending this week’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service (Friday 25 April 2014), before the service starts you can take part in a little naked eye astronomy by looking up and to the East. Assuming you have clear skies, you will easily be able to observe dazzling Venus and a waning crescent […]
I finally got to see the last bit of tonight’s lunar eclipse and snapped the above photograph.
Tonight’s ‘Blood Moon’ lunar eclipse and the tetrad
Don’t be disappointed tonight (Tuesday 15 April 2014) when the totally eclipsed Moon doesn’t turn out to be literally ‘blood red’ (as apparently outlined in a New York best seller). The appearance of a lunar eclipse in real life varies dramatically and depends to a large degree on the level of dust in the Earth’s […]